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A refurbishment by Barland Shopfitters has given Kellaways in Truro, Cornwall, more space for customers, a bigger prep room and a new sense of pride

During the 21 years that Larry and Amanda Kellaway have owned The Golden Fry, the pair have carried out a number of improvements to the takeaway, but this year they made their most significant change to the business so far. Not only did they rebrand and put their family name above the door but they also invested £150,000 in a major refurbishment in order to move the business forward.

Daughter and manager Lauren Kellaway comments: “It was a major job like nothing we’ve done before. We knocked out the best part of five rooms, so what was once the bathroom and the office are now part of the front of the shop, which gives customers more room. It also meant we could invest in a bigger frying range to facilitate more options. So as well as beef dripping we also do vegetable oil now, which means we can cater for vegetarians, and we’ve been able to introduce gluten free days too. Everything is so diverse at the moment and everyone wants something different so we try and cater for as much as possible.”

With Barlands heading up the refurbishment, ideas and designs were discussed and instantly Lauren felt the company understood what the family wanted. She adds: “We’re a family-run business and we’re a very localised business, so we get the same trade and the same people in week after week. We didn’t want to make the shop look too much like a chain, we wanted a family, homely feel but at the same time it had to be more modern.”

Using earthy tones and a combination of tiles and wood to create a light, modern and natural feel to the takeaway, the refurb includes a number of popular features, for example, old-school hanging lights, as well as many bespoke features which give the shop the sense of individuality that Lauren wanted. For example, a bespoke bench now sits in the window offering customers the option to eat-in, while the shop logo - designed by one of the family members - has been replicated on a wall and stenciled on to the wooden range front.

The refurb continued into the back of the shop where Barlands fitted out the newly extended potato prep area with food-safe plastic so it’s all easy to wipe and clean down.

Lauren adds: “Barlands were very good at suggesting ideas and sourcing items but they were also able to create many bespoke pieces for us. And they always gave us the final say, so they would say “we can do it this way or that way”, so we always felt involved in the decisions. The finish is very good, everything ties in really well and they were a lovely team to work with.”

To complement the new look shop, staff uniforms have also been given a makeover with chef whites and trousers out and new t-shirts and headbands in. The changes have not only been welcomed by customers but staff too, as Lauren explains: “The customers love the new look and keep commenting on how posh it is. I tell them it’s not that posh, it’s just better than what you were used to! It’s improved staff morale too; as a young person you want to feel happy and confident about where you work and what you’re wearing and that’s exactly what we’ve been able to achieve.”

With the takeaway now well and truly up-to-date, Lauren is looking to the future to a time when she hopes to be at the helm, adding: “I feel like we’ve future-proofed the business now. You never know which way this industry is going to go and I’m hoping I won’t have to touch it for at least 10 years, by which time my parents will have retired so it will all be on me!”Barland Shopfitters 0800 043 5523 www.barlandshopfitters.co.uk